Chapter 61: Thank You for Your Nurturing

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Superintendent, everyone is here. Please give your orders!”

In the square in the front yard of the 0th Workshop, Zhang Yibei, Sixth Brother Wu, and the others stood proudly in a line.

Their energy and spirit were worlds apart compared to a month ago.

Compared to the Forging Apprentices in other workshops, they were glowing.

This wasn’t surprising. The Forging Apprentices in other workshops were all working from morning to night, and they were as tired as dogs every day. How good could their complexion be?

As for Zhang Yibei and the others, they only needed to work eight hours a day. Furthermore, they only had to direct other apprentices. This sense of accomplishment was incomparable to other jobs.

Zhang Yibei, Sixth Brother Wu, and the others were extremely glad they knew Zhou Shu and were able to move to the 0th Workshop.

They felt that they lived like humans now. In the past, they were animals!

So now, they truly respected Zhou Shu. As long as Zhou Shu said the word, they would do anything.

“Everyone, there’s no need to be so serious. I didn’t gather everyone for anything special. It’s just that we’ve almost completed our mission, and I want to have a chat with everyone.” Zhou Shu motioned for everyone to be quiet with his hands and smiled.

“Before we get down to business, let’s get this straight. How do you feel about spending the last month in the 0th Workshop? Is there anything you’re not happy about?”

Zhang Yibei, Sixth Brother Wu, and the others exchanged glances, but no one took the initiative to speak.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Shu smiled and nodded. “Brother Yibei, tell me first.”

Zhang Yibei said fearfully, “Superintendent, you can just call me by my name. My life will shorten if you call me that.”

Then he calmed himself down and said, “After coming to the 0th Workshop, I realized that humans could live like this.

“Superintendent, I’m not flattering you, but I really feel this way. The time I’ve spent in the 0th Workshop is the happiest time of my life.

“Here, I can eat my fill and sleep well. I can return to my wife, children, and a warm bed every day after work. I, Zhang Yibei, didn’t even dare to think about such days in the past.

“Superintendent, if you ask me if there’s anything I’m not happy with, I can tell you with certainty that there isn’t!

“If anyone is still dissatisfied with this, their conscience has been eaten by dogs!”

“That’s right, Superintendent, we are very satisfied!” Sixth Brother Wu and the others shouted.

In a sense, the working people were very simple. As long as they were given some meager benefits, they would be able to work like cows and horses without complaints.

Zhou Shu thought that the current conditions of the 0th Workshop were only average. Whether it was the accommodations or other treatment, they had no essential difference from the sweatshops in his previous life.

The reason Zhang Yibei and the others felt that it was good was that they had been living poorly in the past.

“The 0th Workshop has only just been built, so the conditions are limited. This is the best we can do for now. Even if anyone is dissatisfied, I can’t do anything for now,” Zhou Shu said with a smile.

The size of the workshop was limited. In order to build this place, Zhou Shu had spent all the money he had on hand. If Mi Ziwen hadn’t given him a gift, he would still be in debt to the craftsmen of the Ministry of Works.

As of now, he had no intention to further improve the working conditions of Zhang Yibei and the others.

But apart from improving the working conditions, Zhou Shu had other ideas.

“I’ve gathered everyone here today because I have good news to tell you,” Zhou Shu continued.

“After discussing with the grand minister, I have a clear plan for the future development of the 0th Workshop.”

Zhang Yibei, Sixth Brother Wu, and the rest looked at each other.

Plan?

What does this have to do with us?

We’re just Forging Apprentices. Isn’t the planning of the workshop something for the superintendent to worry about?

What does he want us to do? He can just give us instructions. Why does he want to talk to us about his plan?

Zhou Shu shook his head. I have to continue nurturing these apprentices. If they can’t understand their boss, how can the business, no, workshop develop well?

Zhou Shu didn’t want to get himself into a situation where he had to be involved with everything, big and small. It was very necessary to nurture a few capable assistants.

“Does everyone think that the plans of the workshop have nothing to do with you? Do you think that all you have to do is do your job well?” Zhou Shu said.

Although Zhang Yibei and the rest didn’t say anything, their expressions already made it clear what they were thinking.

Zhou Shu shook his head. “No. The development plans of the 0th Workshop are closely related to each and every one of you.

“Let me put it this way. The development of the 0th Workshop is the foundation of your future. If you don’t even know the development of the workshop, how can you take control of your own life?”

Take control of our own life? Zhang Yibei, Sixth Brother Wu, and the rest were confused. How does this phrase have anything to do with us?

All they needed to know was what to do.

Zhou Shu felt a little helpless. Indeed, talking to the assembly line workers about the factory’s development plans was a bit of nonsense.

“Alright, you don’t have to care so much for the time being,” Zhou Shu said. “This matter has something to do with you. The work you have to do in the future is going to change.

“Actually, it’s not quite right to say it’s going to change. Let me put it this way. The work that you have to do in the future is somewhat similar to what you’ve been doing for the past month.”

“Superintendent, do you mean that we have to go to other workshops to command their Forging Apprentices?”

“‘Command’ is not appropriate. Change the word. Guide,” Zhou Shu said. “Yes, guide.

“According to the agreement between the grand minister and I, the 0th Workshop will no longer take on any specific forging tasks. Our main task from now on is to develop and improve standard weapons!”

“Huh?”

When it came to general forging knowledge, Zhang Yibei and the others understood. It was precisely because they understood that they were shocked.

“Superintendent, are you going to drive us back to our original workshop?” Zhang Yibei, Sixth Brother Wu, and the rest said uneasily.

After their time at the 0th Workshop, it was really hard for them to accept that they would have to return to their original workshop.

Other things aside, many of them had already brought their families into the 0th Workshop’s accommodations. If they were sent back to their original work shed, how would their family live?

“Of course not.” Zhou Shu shook his head.

“But we only know how to forge. We don’t have the ability to develop and improve standard weapons,” Zhang Yibei said.

They now all had a clear understanding of themselves. They were good at forging standard weapons, but developing new weapons, or even simply modifying the original standard weapons, was simply beyond their ability.

“You can learn slowly if you don’t know,” Zhou Shu said, “Besides, even if you don’t know how, I do.

“For now, your task is very simple. After I develop a new standard weapon, I will teach you the forging method. Then you will go to other workshops and guide the other Forging Apprentices.”

This method was the result of Zhou Shu’s careful consideration.

When a weapon was developed, it had to be mass produced. But it was obvious that the 0th Workshop didn’t have the manpower.

This way, he would have to find a factory.

Of course, this was an internal matter of the Forging Division. To Zhou Shu, it was equivalent to giving a portion of his accomplishments to his sister workshops.

He had discussed this with Yin Wuyou, and she didn’t have any objections.

To the higher-ups, what they did wasn’t important. What was important was the result.

Zhang Yibei and the others finally understood Zhou Shu’s explanation.

It was just like what they had been doing. Weren’t the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers and the Horse Slaying Sabers forged in this way?

“In that case, we should be able to take on the responsibility,” Zhang Yibei and the others said. “No, we will definitely complete the task entrusted to us by you, Superintendent!”

“It’s not that exaggerated.” Zhou Shu shook his head. “It’s just work.

“In order for everyone to work more effectively in the future, I’ve asked someone to find some martial arts techniques. Although we’re only forgers and don’t need to fight with others, I don’t think I need to say much about the importance of the Martial Dao to forging.

“I don’t expect everyone to be ranked martial artists, but practicing the martial arts and strengthening our bodies will also be beneficial to our forging.

“Zhang Yibei, you’re responsible for passing these martial arts manuals to everyone. Everyone will choose one to cultivate.”

“This matter is very important. It directly concerns your future salary. You must pay attention to it, understand?”

Zhang Yibei carefully took a few books from Zhou Shu and said solemnly, “Understood!”

His hands were trembling slightly.

Martial arts in Great Xia were flourishing. On the surface, everyone had the opportunity to cultivate the Martial Dao. But in fact, the opportunities people received were very different.

Just like Zhang Yibei and the others, they had all cultivated some elementary cultivation techniques before. But these cultivation techniques were the most crude and common ones. They were just barely able to strengthen their bodies. It would be difficult for them to achieve anything with them.

Now that Zhou Shu had even prepared cultivation techniques for them, how could Zhang Yibei not be moved?

He didn’t even need to look through them to confirm that the cultivation techniques Zhou Shu had taken out were definitely better than the ones they had previously cultivated.

“Thank you, Superintendent, for your nurturing!” Zhang Yibei fell to his knees and kowtowed.

“Thank you, Superintendent, for your nurturing!” Sixth Brother Wu and the others followed suit.

Some people even had tears brimming in their eyes. Perhaps even if they had a cultivation technique, they wouldn’t have much of a future in the Martial Dao.

But from this, they could see how much Zhou Shu valued them. They could also see the hope of life. At this moment, they felt that they could die for Zhou Shu without any hesitation!

“Woah, why are all of you kneeling?” Such a solemn scene was suddenly destroyed by a voice.

“Everyone, withdraw. You can pick a cultivation technique that suits you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.” Zhou Shu waved his hand, gesturing for Zhang Yibei and the others to leave.

Then his gaze fell to the door. “Why are you here?”